konklusies

Konklusies, in Afrikaans, are the conclusions drawn at the end of a text from analysis and reasoning. They serve to answer a research question, sum up the main argument, or state what follows from the presented evidence. Konklusies can appear in academic essays, theses, reports, legal opinions, and journalistic analyses. They may be descriptive, summarising findings, or normative, offering implications or recommendations.

The spelling konklusies reflects Afrikaans orthography. The singular form is konklusie, while Dutch uses conclusie and conclusies. The term ultimately derives from the Latin conclusio, and it is cognate with the English word conclusions. In Afrikaans contexts, konklusies are often followed by aanbevelings (recommendations) or beleidsimplicaties (policy implications), depending on the genre.

In usage, a konklusie should be closely tied to the aims and evidence presented in the body of the work. It typically restates the central question, summarises the principal findings, and explains how the findings answer the question. It may also acknowledge limitations and indicate directions for future research or practical actions. A well-crafted konklusie remains concise, coherent, and free from introducing new evidence.

Common pitfalls include overgeneralisation, making claims not supported by the analysis, or presenting new information in the conclusion. Clear konklusies draw directly on the data and arguments developed earlier in the text and stay within the scope of the study.